FORMER All Black Byron Kelleher believes Wales have an ace up their sleeve for this summer’s tour of New Zealand.

Wales meet South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on June 5 – two weeks before the first Test with the All Blacks in Dunedin – and Kelleher (inset, below) admits Super 14 commitments means New Zealand’s preparation will be nowhere near as good.

And Kelleher has warned his countrymen not to be lulled into a false sense of security by disappointing Welsh performances during the Six Nations Championship with Warren Gatland’s men having the luxury of a month together to sharpen their preparations to meet the Kiwis.

“The All Blacks won’t have very good preparation because their players will be coming straight off the Super 14 competition,” said Kelleher, 33, now plying his trade with French aristocrats Toulouse.

“They will only have a week or so before they play the opening Test with Wales. But the Welsh will have a bit more time together to work on their cohesion, team building and ethics – and the South Africa game is perfect for them.”

The All Blacks host Ireland in New Plymouth on June 12 but Graham Henry’s men are expected to have limited preparation time before that game.

Wales then meet New Zealand in Dunedin on June 19 and in Hamilton seven days later – the second Test in Gatland’s home town.

“I’m sure Warren will be fired up for that one – he’ll be revving up the boys,” said Kelleher, who was coached by Gatland at Waikato and the Chiefs Super 14 team.

“I’m sure Wales have the players to beat the All Blacks but, of course, I have confidence in my own country. New Zealand are building, like they were before the 2007 World Cup.

“I’m sure the experience they had of not getting their timing right for that competition won’t happen again.

“I feel they’ve got the plans in place to make sure they don’t do that at home in next year’s World Cup. They are a very experienced coaching staff, headed by Graham Henry, and have the experience of the highs and lows of international rugby. I trust what they do, that they have the players in New Zealand that are going to win the World Cup.”

Kelleher insisted the secret of success at the highest level in rugby was in execution and being clinical.

But, once again, those failings cost Wales in the Six Nations and saw the Ospreys blow a golden opportunity to beat Biarritz in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup last weekend.